Luminous composition.



Patented May 16, 1905.

ATENT FFICE.

,oaoaen F. KUZ. or NEW YORK. N. Y.

LUMINOUS compo'smon.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 789,811, dated May 16, 1905.- Application filed September 24,1903/ Serial No. 174,492. (Specimen) To all rimnt it 71m ('IIIH'I'I'IL:

Be it known that l, GEORGE F, KUNZ, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at New York city, in the county of New York and State of.New York, have in-- vented certain new and useful Improvements in Luminous Compositions, of which the following is a specification.

l\ly,invention has reference to radio-active luminous compositions, and particularly to a composition containing a radioactive sub.- stance, such as a radiumcompound, and a radio-responsive substance, such as willem itc, the object of my invention being to' pro-- duce a composition having a much greater luminosity than either of the isolated radioactive or radio-responsive constituent parts.

Up to the resent time radium as an element has not con isolated and is only known in the compound form as radium chlorid, radiumbronnd, radium barium carbonate, &c., although radium is believed to been element, as its spectrum contains several positivelv new lines.

known radio-active sub-' my in"enti0n may be mentioned radium compounds. I have determined by experiment that'thc luminosityof these radioactivc suhstancw may be greatly increased by m ix ing therewith certain substances having radio-responsive properties that is to say, such substances which become luminous or are rendered more highly luminous when brought into contact with substances of higher radio-activity. As such may be mentioned willemitc, zinc sullid, phosp iorcscent calcium sullid, kunzite, &,c.

In carrying out my invention I mix, as an example, pulverulcnt or granular radium material-say radium barium carbonate and pulvcrulent or granular willemitein variable or equal proportions, The mixture so produced possesses a lasting luminosity exceedim that of the radium material m a; marked degree. .A like ell'ect is produced by mixing the radium material or other radioactive material directly with s ulfid of zinc or zinc oxid and other natural or artificial compounds of zinc, even if some of the latter be of lowradio-responsiveness; Similar effects may be obta net by substituting other radioactive and radio-responsive bodies for those just mentioned. it the materials are of high radio-activity, ordinary glas holds back certain rays, presun-iahly ultra- 'iolet, which do not penetrate the gla s. From experiment, however, it is known that quartz (rock-cat's tal) permits the free passage of the ultraviolet or other rays obstructed by ordinary glass, and it is therefore best to use either )ottles or vials of quartz {rock-crystal) or small llat or'hemispherieal plates of this substance to be inserted in the glass, wood, or

other receptacle for the luminous compositions, thus permittingthe free passage of all the radio-active rays. Ordinary glass will answer for materials of low radio-activitv.

The composition may be used dry in powdered form or it may be mixed with a liquid, either acid, alkaline, or neutral such as wa' ter, petroleum, or with an oil, varnish, or other liquid-4 0 form a luminous paint without affecting its radio-activity.

While have herein described and claimed specifically a composition of radio-active material and willennte or zine. compound, the broad invention of a composition containing any one or all the rudio-aetivc and radio-responsive materials is made the subject-matter of my c o ending application, Serial No. 186,381, film December 23,1903.

What I claim as new is l. A lu'minouscomposition containi radie-active material, will'emite and liquit 2. A luminous composition containing mdio-active material, willemitc and oil.

3. A luminous composition containing radio-activ-c material, willemite and translucent covering or casing.

4. A luminous composition containing radio-active material, n'illemite and easing orcovering of rock-crystal.

5. A luminous COIUPOSZUOH containing radie-active ma erial, zinc compound and rock- 5 crystal covering or casing.

6. A com osition containing radio-active material an willemite.

7. A luminous comlaosition containing ramy hand in the. presence of two subscribin;

dium material and wi emitc.

S. A luminous composition containing radio-active mat-aria and willemite. 5 9. A luminous"composition containing r0.-

dio-acti-ro material, Willa-mite and a vehicle. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set wltness'es.

GEORGE F. KUNZ.

Witnesses: A. PAPER DU FAUR, Jr HENRY ABMBRUSTER. 

